Title: Examining Minority Trust and Confidence in the Police.
Series: Solicitation
Author: National Institute of Justice
Published: November 2000
Subject: Funding resources
9 pages
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U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice
National Institute of Justice
Solicitation
Julie E. Samuels, Acting Director
November 2000
Examining Minority Trust and Confidence in the Police
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
February 15, 2001
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
810 Seventh Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20531
Janet Reno
Attorney General
Daniel Marcus
Acting Associate Attorney General
Mary Lou Leary
Acting Assistant Attorney General
Julie E. Samuels
Acting Director, National Institute of Justice
For grant and funding information, contact:
Department of Justice Response Center
800-421-6770
Office of Justice Programs
World Wide Web Site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
National Institute of Justice
World Wide Web Site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij
Please Note! changes in the application process
--Privacy Certificate-requirements have been revised
--Protection of Human Subjects--new form (310) required
--National Environmental Policy Act--there is a compliance advisory
--Items10 (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number) and 12
(Geographic Areas Affected by Project--new form) of the SF 424 (Application
for Federal Assistance)--there are now full instructions for completing these
items.
For complete information about these changes, consult the Guidelines for
Submitting Proposals for National Institute of Justice-Sponsored Research
Examining Minority Trust and Confidence in the Police
I. Introduction
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) serves as the independent research and
development arm of the Department of Justice. Since 1995, NIJ, in partnership
with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), has
instituted a broad research and evaluation agenda focused on transformations
taking place in policing. NIJ has awarded research grants as a part of this
partnership through financial support under the authority of the Public Safety
Partnership and Community Policing Act (Title I) of the Violent Crime Control
and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (the Crime Act) [see 42 U. S. C. X
3796dd-4, 3793 (c) (11) (B)]. These awards total more than $47 million for
research and evaluation efforts regarding the implementation, consequences,
and implications of community-oriented and problem-solving policing.
Complete lists of the studies funded in previous years are available from the U.
S. Department of Justice Response Center at (800)-421-6770, at (202) 307-
1480 and by fax at (202) 616-9294.
II. Background
Despite considerable improvements in police-community relations over the last
several decades, trust and confidence in the police continues to be a serious
issue in many minority communities. This is, in part, because minority residents
frequently believe interactions with police officers are motivated by bias and
prejudice. Disrespectful treatment, racial profiling, use of force, and aggressive
enforcement initiatives can lead to anger and resentment on the part of many
minority community members.
A single high-profile use-of-force incident, such as the shooting of a suspect by
police, can fracture whole communities and undo many of the hard-won gains
achieved through community policing. High levels of less serious uses of force
or other behaviors that humiliate or embarrass may also may foster a climate of
ill will and distrust in the police and government institutions generally. Although
either situation may result in a host of negative consequences for police and the
communities they serve, the occurrence of a critical incident in a community
already highly distrustful of the police is potentially disastrous.
Because of continued concern over police abuse of authority, further research
on the nature and extent of the problem is needed, and the identification,
documentation, and evaluation of interventions that may mitigate police use of
force and incivilities are crucial. Several factors should be considered when
proposing to undertake research or conduct an evaluation on the issue, some of
which are outlined below.
Limiting abuse of authority, whether that abuse comprises disrespect or use of
force, is a complex and multifaceted challenge, with each problem likely
requiring different preventive and corrective solutions. Strategies for addressing
use-of-force problems must be properly targeted to be effective. The problem
of excessive use of force (force used too frequently) may require different
interventions than the problem of use of excessive force (too much force used in
a given incident). Similarly, interventions designed to reduce the incidence of
willful abuses of force (brutality) may need to be different from interventions
designed to reduce the incidence of well-intentioned mistakes stemming from
individual or organizational deficiencies in judgment, tactics or equipment
(unnecessary force).
Effective interventions may need to focus on one or more formal aspects of the
police organization (e.g., hiring criteria, recruit training, in-service programs,
supervision of field officers, early warning systems, disciplinary mechanisms,
operations of internal affairs, specialized units dealing with ethics and integrity,
labor unions and civilian oversight mechanisms). Interventions may also need to
focus on one or more less formal aspects of the organization (e.g., leadership,
officer morale, peer culture and influence, police-community relations, relations
with other government agencies and neighborhood environments).
Research shows that police respond punitively (appropriately or not) to
suspects who act disrespectfully toward them. Thus, police use of force and
disrespect in many instances may be justified by police as a response to actions
of citizens, such as verbal insults, passive physical resistance, or assault. A
comprehensive strategy to reduce the incidence of disrespect and use of force
on the part of both police and the public may need to consider interventions
aimed at both law enforcement and the community (e.g., teaching youth how to
act in respectful and nonthreatening ways when confronted by police, and
teaching police to treat juveniles respectfully and to not react negatively to
verbal insults).
Finally, the development of strategies to educate both police and the public
regarding the realities of use of force may help dispel misperceptions and
reduce police-community tensions. For example, because of media coverage of
critical incidents (killings of police) and the popularity of police "street survival"
courses and texts, police may tend to overestimate the dangers of their
occupation. Such perceptions may lead some officers to use preemptive force
when it may be unnecessary or to use greater levels of force where lower levels
might suffice.
Similarly, because of widespread media attention community residents may
believe that police use force and excessive force much more frequently than
they actually do, or they may believe that most instances of police use of force
are unjustified and the result of prejudicial behavior. Such perceptions may
foster animosity and hinder the development of closer police-community ties.
Interventions aimed at dispelling misperceptions may help improve relations
between the police and the communities they serve.
III. Areas of Research Required
NIJ will support scientifically sound basic research that demonstrates a strong
potential for making policy and programmatic recommendations. NIJ also will
support rigorous evaluations of programs designed to reduce the incidence of
use of force and incivilities that have implications for national replication. Areas
of research and evaluation interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Determining the nature and extent of police behaviors that humiliate,
embarrass or physically abuse, and the effects of these behaviors on public
attitudes--particularly those of minorities and youths--toward the police.
2. How perceptions and stereotypes of police, minorities, and youths are
formed, how they influence police-public interactions, and how they might be
dispelled.
3. The relationship of officer approach, tone of voice, level of respect, and
suspect demeanor to use of force and incivilities.
4. The effects of "aggressive" enforcement efforts (e.g., zero tolerance) and
specialized street units on community opinions of the police.
5. The impact of various methods and/or types of training (e.g., use of force,
verbal tactics, mediation), types of accountability systems (e.g., supervision,
early warning systems, peer review, complaint systems), and policies (e.g.,
mandatory use of force reporting) on the incidence of use of force and
behaviors that humiliate and embarrass.
6. The role of leadership (e.g., chiefs, commanders) in managing abuses of
authority in the field.
7. The effects of community education programs on the incidence of use of
force, incivilities, and attitudes toward police (e.g., teaching youth to interact
with police in nonthreatening and polite ways when stopped by police;
educating the public about the realities of police work, such as the risks officers
face and the reasons for the approaches they take).
IV. How to Apply
Those interested in submitting proposals in response to this solicitation must
complete the required application forms and submit related required
documents. (See below for how to obtain application forms and guides for
completing proposals.) Applicants must include the following information/forms
to quality for consideration:
--Standard Form (SF) 424--application for Federal assistance
--Geographic Areas Affected Worksheet - NEW FORM
--Assurances
--Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension, and Other
Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (one form)
--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
--Budget Detail Worksheet
--Budget Narrative
--Negotiated indirect rate agreement (if appropriate)
--Names and affiliations of all key persons from applicant and subcontractor(s),
advisors, consultants, and advisory board members. Include name of principal
investigator, title, organizational affiliation (if any), department (if institution of
higher education), address, phone, and fax
--Proposal abstract
--Table of contents
--Program narrative or technical proposal
--Privacy certificate - REVISED
--Form 310 (Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/
Certification/ Declaration) - NEW FORM
--Environmental Assessment (if required) - NEW
--References
--Letters of cooperation from organizations collaborating in the research
project
--R‚sum‚s
--Appendixes, if any (e.g., list of previous NIJ awards, their status, and
products [in NIJ or other publications])
Confidentiality of information and human subjects protection. NIJ has adopted
new policies and procedures regarding the confidentiality of information and
human subjects protection. Please see the Guidelines for Submitting Proposals
for National Institute of Justice-Sponsored Research for details on the new
requirements.
Proposal abstract. The proposal abstract, when read separately from the rest of
the application, is meant to serve as a succinct and accurate description of the
proposed work. Applicants must concisely describe the research goals and
objectives, research design, and methods for achieving the goals and
objectives. Summaries of past accomplishments are to be avoided, and
proprietary/confidential information is not to be included. Length is not to
exceed 400 words. Use the following two headers:
o Project Goals and Objectives:
o Proposed Research Design and Methodology:
Page limit. The number of pages in the "Program Narrative" part of the
proposal must not exceed 30 (double-spaced pages), no matter the amount of
funding requested.
Due date. Completed proposals must be received at the National Institute of
Justice by the close of business on February 15, 2001. Extensions of this
deadline will not be permitted.
Award period. In general, NIJ limits its grants and cooperative agreements to a
maximum period of 24 months. However, longer budget periods may be
considered.
Number of awards. NIJ anticipates supporting up to 6 grants under this
solicitation.
Award amount. Awards totaling $1,000,000 will be made available for this NIJ
solicitation.
Applying. Two packets need to be obtained: (1) application forms (including a
sample budget worksheet) and (2) guidelines for submitting proposals (including
requirements for proposal writers and requirements for grant recipients). To
receive them, applicants can:
--Access the Justice Information Center on the Web:
http://www.ncjrs.org/fedgrant.htm#nij or the NIJ Web site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ nij/funding.htm
These Web sites offer the NIJ application forms and guidelines as electronic
files that may be downloaded to a personal computer.
--Request hard copies of the forms and guidelines by mail from the National
Criminal Justice Reference Service at 800-851-3420 or from the Department
of Justice Response Center at 800-421-6770 (in the Washington, D.C., area,
at 202-307-1480).
Request copies by fax. Call 800-851-3420 and select option 1, then option 1
again for NIJ. Code is 1023.
Guidance and information. Applicants who wish to receive additional guidance
and information may contact the U.S. Department of Justice Response Center
at 800-421-6770. Center staff can provide assistance or refer applicants to an
appropriate NIJ professional. Applicants may, for example, wish to discuss
their prospective research topics with the NIJ professional staff.
Send 10 copies of the completed applications to:
Examining Minority Trust and Confidence in the Police
National Institute of Justice
810 Seventh Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20531
[overnight courier ZIP code 20001]
SL 000448
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NIJ is streamlining its process to accommodate the volume of proposals
anticipated under this and other Crime Act solicitations. Researchers can help in
a significant way by sending NIJ a nonbinding letter of intent by January 15,
2001. The Institute will use these letters to forecast the numbers of peer panels
it needs and to identify conflicts of interest among potential reviewers. There are
two ways to send these letters. You can reach NIJ by Internet by sending e-
mail to tellnij@ncjrs.org and identifying the solicitation and section(s) you
expect to apply for. You can write a letter with the same information to
Examining Minority Trust and Confidence in the Police, 810 Seventh Street
N.W., Washington, DC 20531.
For more information on the National Institute of Justice, please contact:
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
800-851-3420
e-mail: askncjrs@ncjrs.org
You can view or obtain an electronic version of this document from
the NCJRS Justice Information Center web site (http://www.ncjrs.org) or the
NIJ web site (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij).
If you have any questions, call or e-mail NCJRS.